I personally don't like the weird guy fit. N&F are ok thou, obvious they are not as high end as some of the Japanese brands but they are good for the price point on sale through Nordstrom. Try "Gap selvedge" it's pretty decent stuff and you can acquire it for 40 bucks if you watch the sales.

On the lookout for size 8D Alden LHS penny loafers NOT in Color 8. Looking for cxl or shell...anyone seen anything at retailers. BTW...would also buy used if someone has some they want to get rid of. Thanks...JT

I'm sure that BB's margin has gone down as Alden has come into its own due to all the forum and blog exposure. I long for the days when Brooks offered a huge selection of Alden made shoes in various patterns, lasts, and leathers. It's a shame that you can no longer get an Alden Balmoral WT or cap toe in brown and black calf from BB.

I'm honestly shocked that BB hasn't dropped Alden shell for AE. Their (AE's) horrid QC must be too much for Brooks to take.

Couldn't be more true.

The reason I'm currently looking to switch over to Alden is because of AEs terrible QC. Aldens are more expensive, but clearly more worth the money.

AE fans constantly talk about how awesome AEs customer service is. When I suggest that good customer service should START with good quality control, these fans get SUPER defensive. Half the pictures posted on the AE thread are something to the effect of, "Is this defect bad enough that I should send these shoes back?"

Sorry to bring AE into this thread, I just think Alden deserves more credit than they get for consistently putting out a quality product.

The reason I'm currently looking to switch over to Alden is because of AEs terrible QC. Aldens are more expensive, but clearly more worth the money.

AE fans constantly talk about how awesome AEs customer service is. When I suggest that good customer service should START with good quality control, these fans get SUPER defensive. Half the pictures posted on the AE thread are something to the effect of, "Is this defect bad enough that I should send these shoes back?"

Sorry to bring AE into this thread, I just think Alden deserves more credit than they get for consistently putting out a quality product.

I drove to the #1 AE factory store three years ago and marveled at how crappy their seconds looked. I was dumbstruck when the SA told me they were firsts! Alden has some QC issues, which didn't exist 10 years ago, but compared to AE they're golden. Alden also chooses to raise their prices rather than cut corners, while AE does both.

The reason I'm currently looking to switch over to Alden is because of AEs terrible QC. Aldens are more expensive, but clearly more worth the money.

AE fans constantly talk about how awesome AEs customer service is. When I suggest that good customer service should START with good quality control, these fans get SUPER defensive. Half the pictures posted on the AE thread are something to the effect of, "Is this defect bad enough that I should send these shoes back?"

Sorry to bring AE into this thread, I just think Alden deserves more credit than they get for consistently putting out a quality product.

I too am a MUCH bigger Alden fan than AE, but what I've learned is to not get my hopes up too high with Alden either.

In their defense, Alden has stepped up their QC game immensely within the last 2 years IMHO.

But a thorough reading of this thread seems to indicate that Alden has suffered quite a bit of QC issues in their own right.

Also, it seems that Alden customer service is becoming much better as well. Whereas in times past, not so much.

Its interesting that the other day in the Vass thread one of the chaps over there was lamenting over crooked perforations on a Vass cap toe boot.

I thought that those gents were going to get the fillet knife out and start carving away at Vass QC. Much to my surprise, they blew it off as being part of the "handmade process."

That was on a 800+ pair of calf boots...and remind you AE are 1/4 and Alden 1/2 that cost roughly.

The point is that if the same thing would of happened in the Alden or AE thread the same crowd would dive bomb the brands mercilessly...

I have learned to meet these brands where they are and roll with the punches...

I haven't been buying high quality shoes for very long, but the AE I do have right now will be getting sold at some point for similar style Alden's. While both brands may have QC issues, I feel my Alden's are much much better than my AEs and I'll gladly pay retail for Alden, whereas it's much harder to justify AE.